Suspension device



July 18, 1939. w, w n- 2,166,884

' SUSPENSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 25, 1958 M41 A l/7 M075,

34343 W KM Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a suspension device designed primarily for suspending clothes from a clothes line, but it is to be understood, that a suspension device, in accordance with this invention is for use in any connection for which it may be found applicable.

The invention aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to for suspending wet garments, sheets, towels etc., indirectly from a clothes line for the purpose of drying them without the wrapping thereof around the line thereby overcoming the objection of the garments freezing to the line in the winter.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a suspension device including a pair of oppositely disposed spring controlled quickly releasable clamps of likeform connected together by the controlling springs therefor in inner lengthwise edge abutting engagement, and one for clamping on a hanger in suspended relation thereto and the other for clamping to and suspending an object free of direct connection to the hanger.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a suspension device for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, conveniently operated to clamping and suspension position, readily assembled,

3Q thoroughly efiicient in its use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the foregoing aims and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation looking towards one side of the device,

Figure 2 is an elevation looking towards the rear lengthwise edge of the device,

Figure 3 is an exploded view in side elevation of the form of the pair of clamping members of each of the clamps,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the clamps of the device disposed horizontally,

Figure 5 is an elevation of the form of controlling spring employed in each of the clamps, and

Figure 6 is an elevation of a modified arrangement of the parts of the device in side elevation.

The device includes a pair of oppositely disposed inner lengthwise edge abutting clamps 6, l of like form.

Each of said clamps include a pair of oppositely disposed coacting clamping members 8, 9 being 5 formed from bars of uniform length and width as indicated at H], II respectively (Figure 3). The outer lengthwise edge l2 of the bar it is straight and flat and between its transverse median and its end i3 is formed with a transverse 10 groove I4. The other end of the bar It is indicated at M The bar it is formed with oppositely disposed tapered end terminal portions It, It. The portion I5 is of greater length and of less thickness than the portion IS. The bar it is 15 formed with a pair of oppositely disposed intermediate tapered portions ll, l8 and a tapered portion l9. The portion ll is of greater length than the portion IS. The portion I9 is of greater length than the portion l8. The portion ll eX- 20 tends from the portion I5. The portion l9 extends from the portion 16 and merges into the portion I8. The portion l5 gradually decreases in thickness towards the portion H. The portion it gradually decreases in thickness towards th por- 25 tion IS. The latter is of greater thickness than the portion 16. The bar in includes a substantially central portion 20 into which the portions IT, IS merge. The portion l! gradually decreases in thickness towards the portion 26. The latter 30 has its inner edge 2| of semi-circular contour. Between the portions 15 and ii, the bar I8 is formed with a transverse groove 22. The edge 23 of portion [5 inclines inwardly from its outer end to the groove 22. The edge 24 of the portion ll 3 inclines inwardly from groove 22 to the edge 2i of portion 26. The edge 25 of portion l8 inclines inwardly from portion 19 to the edge 25 of portion 20. The edge 26 of portion 59 inclines outwardly from its outer end to the edge 25. The 40 edge 21 of portion l6 inclines inwardly from its outer end to the portion IS.

The bar H has its outer lengthwise edge 28 straight and smooth and it is formed between its lengthwise median and end 29 of bar H with a transversely extending rectangular notch 30. The bar II is formed with end terminal portions 3|, 32 of tapered form and oppositely disposed. The bar It is also formed with tapered portions 33, 34, 35 and 35. The portion 3| is of greater 50 length and of less thickness than the portion 33. The portion 34 is of less length than the portion 33. The portion 35 is of less length than the portion 34. The portion 36 is of greater length than the portion 35 and the portion 32 is of greater length than the portion 36. The portion 32 is of greater thickness than the portion 3| and of greater thickness than the portions 35, 36. The bar I I includes a substantially central portion 3? having its inner edge 38 of substantially semicircular contour. The portion 3| merges into the portion 33, the latter merges into the portion 31, the portion 34 merges into the portion 31, the portion merges into the portion 34, the portion 36 merges into the portion 35 and the portion 32 merges into the portion 35. It may be stated that the portion 32 is substantially of triangular contour and this statement applies to the other portions of the bar I I and also to the portions of the bar I5. The bar II has its inner lengthwise edge formed with inwardly inclined edge portions 39, 45, AH, 42 and 43 and outwardly inclined edge portions 44, 45. The edge portion 39 extends from the end of member IE to the edge portion 49. The latter extends from the edge portion 39 to the semi-circular edge 33. The edge portion 43 extends from the end 29 of bar II to the edge portion 45. The latter merges into the edge portion 42, the edge portion 42 merges into the edge portion 44 and the latter merges into the edge portion M. The edge portion 4| merges into the semi-circular edge portion 38. The edge portions 23, 39 align with each other. The edge portions 24, 45 align with each other, the edge portions 20, 38 align with each other and the edge portion 25 aligns with the edge portion 4i. The latter is of greater length than the edge portion 25. The edge portions 42, 44, also the edge portion 26 and the edge portion 45 substantially aligns with a horizontally disposed edge portion 46 on the member 55. The edge portions 21, 43 align. Mounted in the edge portions 2|, 38 is the coiled body M of a controlling spring 48 for the bars i5, H. The length of body 41 is greater than the Width of the bars. The ends of the spring 48, indicated at 49, 50 are extended. The said ends 49, 53 are of angle form and oppositely disposed. The end 49 includes a leg EI and a leg 52. The latter is disposed in parallelism to the body 41. The leg 52 extends inwardly at right angles to the leg 5|. The end includes a leg 53 and a leg 54 extending inwardly at right angles to the leg 53 and arranged parallel to the body 41. The leg 52 is of greater length than the leg 54.

The ends 49, 50 of the spring 48 extend in opposite directions with respect to each other. When the bars of the clamps are connected together and the clamps connected together in abutting engagement the leg 53 of the end 50 of the spring 48, which forms an element of clamp 6 extends across the bar I I, the leg 54 seats in the notch 35 on the outer lengthwise edge of the latter, the leg 5i of the end 49 of the spring 48, which forms an element of clamp 6 extends across bar ll] of clamp 6 and bar II] of clamp I and leg 52 of spring end 49 seats in groove 22. The spring 48 which forms an element of clamp I has its end 49 connecting bars ID of the clamps in abutting engagement and its end 50 engaging with the bar II of clamp I in the same manner as the end of the spring of clamp 6 engages with the bar II of clamp 5. The arrangement of the springs relative to the clamps 6, I are as shown in Figure l and such arrangement provides for the bars II to be spring controlled and the bars I0 connected together in abutting arrangement.

When the clamps 6, I are coupled together by the springs 48 they are oppositely disposed and each may be selectively employed for clamping to the line or for clamping the clothes thereto. The clamp which is to be connected to the line will be disposed in a manner in what may be termed an upwardly disposed arrangement and the other clamp in what may be termed a downwardly disposed arrangement. When the clamps 6, I are connected together, the springs 48 align. The bars II of the clamps are movable relative to the bars I0 thereof.

The edge portions 4|, 44 of bar I I and edge portion 25 and a part of edge portion 26 of bar ID coact to provide an opening 55 for the passage of a line or hanger or for the extending therein of the article to be suspended. The edge portions 42, 45 and 43 of the bar II coact with the edge portions 45, 3'! and 26 of the bar II] to provide gripping means whereby the aritcle may be suspended by a clamp and with such edge portions gripping the article. If a clamp 6 is used the line or hanger will be passed through opening 55 and the edge portions 43, 45, 42, 21, 46 and 26 of clamp I willbe employed with the gripping means.

The groove I4 of each clamp is provided for receiving the leg 52 of the end 49 of the spring 48 of a clamp when the clamps are disconnected from each other.

The bars I5 are termed the inner bars of the clamps. The bars II are termed the outer bars of the clamps. The body portions 47 of the springs 48 form pivots or fulcrums for said outer bars. That clamp which is connected to the clothes line may be termed a hanger and the other clamp a suspender.

With reference to Figure 1 the bars I I are disposed outwardly of the bars I0. These latter are clamped in abutting relation throughout by the springs 48, but with reference to Figure 6 the bars ID are disposed outwardly of the bars I I and these latter are clamped in abutting relation throughout by the springs 48.

What I claim is:

In a suspension device, a pair of oppositely disposed clamps disposed in fixed inner sidewise abutting relation throughout and each formed of an inner clamping bar, an outer clamping bar and a controlling spring having a coiled body arranged between and seated in said bars, said bodies at one termini thereof having oppositely disposed extended end portions overlapping and slidably mounted in the outer edges of the outer bars of the clamps for spring-controlling such bars and for coupling them to said bodies, said bodies at the other end termini thereof having oppositely disposed extended end portions overlapping and fixed in the inner edges of the inner bars of the clamps for maintaining the outer side edges of said inner bars in fixed abutting relation throughout, each of said clamps having the inner edges of its bars provided with coacting parts bordering and coacting with the body of its spring to form means therein for selectively mounting a clamp on a hanger, and each of said clamps having the inner edges of its bars formed with other coacting parts outwardly adjacent to the said means of the clamp for suspending an article.

WILLIAM WHITE. 

